Miracle Fortress

MIRACLE FORTRESS is the cognomen for Montreal-based musician and producer Graham Van Pelt. Also a member of Think About Life, as Miracle Fortress Graham records and performs a wide array of musical soundscapes, hooks and beats. His 2007 debut, Five Roses, received widespread critical praise, including a Polaris Prize nomination. He's currently working on a long-awaited sophomore release.

IFC premieres new video for Miracle Fortress' "Raw Spectacle"

Miracle Fortress is thrilled to present his brand new music video for the epic Was I the Wave? cut, "Raw Spectacle". Premiered on IFC yesterday and directed by Emily Kai Bock and shot by Neal Rockwell, this short film-style video adds another layer of drama to the 2011 album track. Raw Spectacle is the third video offering since the album’s release, following Miscalculations, and B-side Possession.

As Graham Van Pelt explains: “We set out to create our own variation on the supernatural misfit story, without the trappings of CGI or indeed much of a budget whatsoever. Much toxic by-products were inhaled and minor burns were occasionally suffered, but we can say with pride that the result exceeded our own expectations.”

Read the original article

Best of the Year - Exclaim!

Rarely has electronic music come across as personal and from the heart as it does on Was I the Wave?

Read the original article

Line of Best Fit - Miracle Fortress live in London

By the time we get to new single and album standout Miscalculations, there’s pummeling bass, splashy drums and a full-throttle laser show. Motoring.

Read the original article

Raw Spectacle remix - XLR8R

The remix keeps the song's woozy vocals largely intact, but Pantha du Prince dials down the synths and inserts a steady techno pulse, creating a sort of Balearic pop tune that is undeniably pleasing to the ear.

Read the original article

Was I the Wave? released in the USA

Miracle Fortress’s sophomore album, Was I the Wave? is finally out in the USA, coming on the heels of his sold out cross-Canada tour with Shad. Following tonight’s homecoming launch party in Montreal at the Torn Curtain, Graham will take a brief break before hitting the road again in June with Junior Boys, including shows in Toronto and Ottawa and 10 dates in the US. (See below for details).

If you haven’t caught it yet, Miracle Fortress is also on the cover of this month’s Exclaim! and is appearing in features and reviews across the continent, to much applause. We recently dug what the UK's Line of Best Fit had to say about it, especially considering the record isn't even out there yet (more on that soon).

If you don’t have the acclaimed (and rather addictive) album yet, ask for it at your local record store, or buy it from miraclefortress.com (CD, LP or digital) or direct from us.

» read more…

Was I the Wave? is out today

Miracle Fortress’s long awaited sophomore LP, Was I the Wave? finally drops today in Canada, and now the Montreal producer has announced additional tour dates in support of the album—thirteen shows with the Juniors Boys in Canada and the US.

These shows will follow the already-announced Canadian Tour with Shad in May, and includes stops in Toronto, New York, Nashville, and Chicago. Full tour dates listed after the jump.

In addition to the Canadian release today, the album is available worldwide direct from miraclefortress.com in digital, CD and LP formats. (It will see release in the US on May 17th.) You can also order the CD and LP direct from Secret City.

» read more…

Was I the Wave? in Nylon's hear me now

“Part experimental-ambient and part 80s pop, Was I the Wave is all massive synth-scapes littered with electro beats, and Van Pelt’s dreamy wail towering above.”

Read the original article

Was I the Wave? Montreal Gazette review

“strange and beautiful … soaring melodies and moody, atmospheric sonic beds … filled with the kind of vocal and instrumental hooks you can't leave behind.”

Read the original article

Miracle Fortress announces long-awaited sophomore album, Was I the Wave?

It's been a long time coming, even longer for those of who fell in love with Five Roses back in 2007. Miracle Fortress has finally returned with a sophomore offering, entitled Was I the Wave? It will be out via the newly launched MiracleFortress.com as of April 26th, and is available for pre-order now from the new store. Pre-orders get an instant download of the album's first single "Raw Spectacle" as well a remix by Pantha du Prince. For the less committal, you can grab the single here in exchange for an email address.

The album itself is available in LP, CD, and high quality digital formats, and will be in actual stores across Canada on April 26th as well, and May 17th in the USA.

Miracle Fortress has announce the first leg of touring in support of the album, a cross Canada affair in May. You can get details on those here. More will be announced in the coming weeks.

» read more…

Miracle Fortress Perform New Tracks at CMW 2011 on Spinner

"At the show, Van Pelt opted to offer up new tracks such as 'Miscalculations' and 'Everything Works' in a near-pitch black room, with only flickering laser lights outlining his body enough for the audience to see him. While that might have enraged photographers, it played to the strength of the throbbing beats and helped create a distinct mood for Van Pelt's newfound niche of late-night dance club soundtracks."

Read the original article